A New Hampshire CHINS (Child In Need of Services) Petition is a legal process used by the state of New Hampshire to intervene and provide services to children and families whose circumstances indicate that the child is in need of protective care. A petition for CHINS may be filed by an agency of the state, a law enforcement officer, or any other person who has reasonable cause to believe that a child is in need of protective services. There are two types of New Hampshire CHINS Petition: Emergency CHINS Petition and Non-Emergency CHINS Petition. An Emergency CHINS Petition is used in situations where a child is in immediate danger and needs immediate protection, such as in cases of abuse or neglect. A Non-Emergency CHINS Petition is used in situations where a child's condition does not immediately endanger their safety but may need services in the future.